Troubleshooting Windows Windows 10

Windows 10 Does Not Boot! How do I repair the boot files?

In this troubleshoot article we will show you how to access the Windows Recovery Mode and repair the boot files so Windows again boots. You can also use this guide to access the Windows Recovery mode to execute other repair options.

If you do not have any Windows 10 Installation Medium and still want to access the Windows 10 Recovery Environment then follow “Step 1: Getting an Windows 10 Installation Medium.” If you already have a Windows 10 installation medium such as an installation DVD or USB drive then skip step 1.

Before we start

icon-clock-o Depending on your connection speed and computer performance these steps might take 1-8 hours.

icon-desktop  You will either need a disc station and an empty DVD-Disc or usb port and USB-Stick.

icon-info-circle Your computer must be able to boot from either a DVD-Disc or USB-Stick. You will also need to have a secondary working computer to execute these steps.

Step 1: Getting an Windows 10 Installation Medium

[symple_box color=”yellow” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]If you have a metered connection then please know that we are about to download huge files. [/symple_box]

 

1. Go to the Microsoft website where you can download a Windows 10 installation medium. 

[symple_button url=”http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=616935″ color=”grey” size=”default” border_radius=”3px” target=”self” rel=”” icon_left=”” icon_right=””]Download 32-bits. [/symple_button][symple_button url=”http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=616936″ color=”grey” size=”default” border_radius=”3px” target=”self” rel=”” icon_left=”” icon_right=””]Download 64-bits. [/symple_button]

 

2. Start the tool you’ve just downloaded wait for the screen “Getting a few things ready to disappear”.

 

3. Once you see the screen “What would you like to do” appears choose “Create Installation Media for another PC” and click Next.

 

Create Installation Medium

 

4. Choose your language, edition and architecture. Make sure you choose the right ones here. If your not sure and only need to use the Recovery tools then select Pro and select Architecture both. Once chosen click on Next.

 

Choose Edition and Architecture

 

 

5. Now choose which medium you want to create. If you want to use a DVD-Disc then choose ISO File. If you want to use an USB-Drive then choose USB Flash Drive. Once you picked which you want click on Next.

 

DVD-Disc or USB?

 

If you’ve chosen USB Flash Drive

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete all the steps to create the USB Flash Drive. Once complete skip to “Step 2: Booting your System”.

If you’ve chosen ISO File.

Wait for the download to complete, click on Open DVD Burner and burn the ISO to a disc.

2015-10-10_12-29-16

Step 2: Booting Your System

Before we start make sure your BIOS boot priority is set-up to check the disc drive or USB-ports first before booting from the Hard Disk. If this is not the case then change the settings to make sure the boot priority is correct.

1. Attach the USB Flash Drive or Place the DVD-Disc in your drive and boot your system.

2. Once the message “Press any key to ….” appears simply press any key.

3. Wait for the Disc or USB Flash Drive to load all the files onto your computer. This could take some time.

4. After step 3 is completed you should see a screen like the one below. Choose your language and input language and click on next.

 

Choose Languages

 

5. Now in the left corner click on “Repair your computer.”

 

Repair your Computer

 

 

Step 3: Repairing your boot files.

 

[symple_box color=”red” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]If Windows fails to boot because the boot files are damaged or missing then follow these steps. If this is not the case then continue following the guide that brought you to this or find a guide for your error code. [/symple_box]

1. Once you’ve executed step 2 you will be in the “Choose an Option” screen.

2. Click on Troubleshoot

 

Troubleshoot Windows 10

 

3. Click on Advanced Options

 

Advanced Options

 

4. Click on Command Prompt

 

Command Prompt

 

5. Once the Command Prompt window has appeared type the following command:

chkdsk/f /r X:

Replace the X: with the correct drive letter. In most cases this will be C: you might need to try some letters for getting the right one. I recommend you try C, D, E, X first. 

6. Once CHKDSK is completed. Execute the following command:

bootrec /scanos

7. Once that command has been executed you need to execute the following command:

bootrec /rebuildbcd

8. Once that command has been executed you need to execute the following command:

bootrec /fixmbr

9. Once that command has been executed you need to execute the following command:

bootrec /fixboot

10. Now execute the last command to close command prompt and to reboot your computer

exit

 

Windows will now automatically reboot. If all steps have been executed successfully Windows will once again boot. If Windows fails to boot again then please ask for more help on our forums as something else might be causing the issue. We hope this guide helped you solve your problems.

2 Comments

  • Steve Smith January 17, 2018

    Step 3 REPAIRING BOOT DISK, Line 5. says “at command prompt enter chkdsk/f /r X:
    My command prompt looks like this: x:\sources>
    when I typed chkdsk/f /r X: then hit enter but go the following
    The type of the file system is NTFS.
    Cannot lock current drive.
    Windows cannot run disk checking on the volume because it is write protected.

    x:\sources>
    What to do now?

    • Christiaan Brown March 27, 2019

      X is the hard drive that your computer boots from, normally the C: drive.

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